Festus, Missouri Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Festus, Missouri had a total population of 13,201, the 68th largest city in Missouri, with a median household income of $73,532, which is 4% higher than the state average. The poverty rate is 17.1%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Festus Quick Facts
How Festus Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 12,965 | 13,201 | +1.8% |
| Median household income | $70,085 | $73,532 | +4.9% |
| Median home value | $206,200 | $223,600 | +8.4% |
How Festus Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 40 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Festus Rankings in Missouri
Explore Missouri Rankings
Other Cities in Jefferson County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arnold | 20,956 | $78,370 | 8.2% | $220,000 |
| Murphy | 8,285 | $72,233 | 10.2% | $184,700 |
| De Soto | 6,470 | $52,500 | 13.1% | $160,700 |
| Pevely | 6,055 | $56,000 | 17.9% | $219,600 |
| Barnhart | 5,785 | $95,811 | 4.9% | $229,200 |
| Imperial | 5,488 | $90,028 | 11.1% | $228,700 |
| Herculaneum | 5,071 | $93,438 | 5.6% | $234,300 |
| Crystal City | 4,718 | $72,598 | 11.4% | $185,800 |
| High Ridge | 3,714 | $70,917 | 7.2% | $172,200 |
| Hillsboro | 3,500 | $77,500 | 11.7% | $221,200 |
Cities Similar to Festus
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Union | 12,781 | $73,435 | $205,200 | 23.7% | 8.2% |
| Webb City | 13,221 | $65,469 | $169,100 | 26.7% | 20.5% |
| Troy | 13,947 | $79,012 | $226,500 | 14.7% | 13.6% |
| Neosho | 13,224 | $57,891 | $163,400 | 21.7% | 15.2% |
| Bridgeton | 11,369 | $72,005 | $237,700 | 36.0% | 11.5% |
Population Overview
Festus is a small city located in Missouri, within Jefferson County. The total population is 13,201. It ranks as the 68th most populous out of 1,062 Census-designated places in Missouri.
Age Demographics
The median age in Festus is 36.7 years. This is 6% lower than the state median of 39.0 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Festus is $73,532. This is 4% higher than the state median of $70,702. It is also 9% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 17.1%. This is 36% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.6%. The unemployment rate is 6.6%. This is 64% higher than the state rate of 4.0%. The median home value is $223,600. Housing costs are 3% lower than the state median of $230,300. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.0x. 57.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 15% lower than the state average of 68.1%.
Race & Ethnicity
Festus has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 86.1% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 3.7%. The Black or African American population (3.2%) is well below the state average of 10.9%. The Asian population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 2.1%.
Education
24.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 25% lower than the state rate of 32.4%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 88.7%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Festus, Missouri is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Missouri state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,062 Census-designated places in Missouri. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.
Free data download: Get all Missouri city and county demographics as CSV. Download Cities CSV | Download Counties CSV
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Festus, Missouri?
Festus, Missouri has a population of 13,201 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Festus, MO?
The median household income in Festus is $73,532, which is 9% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Festus, MO?
The poverty rate in Festus is 17.1%. This means approximately 2,198 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Festus, Missouri?
Festus's population is 86.1% White, 3.2% Black, 3.7% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.4% Asian.
What is the median home value in Festus, MO?
The median home value in Festus is $223,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.0x.
How educated is Festus, Missouri?
24.4% of adults (25+) in Festus hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 8.7% hold a graduate or professional degree.